`Nightmare is over': 3 missing Ohio women rescued

This undated combination photo released by the Cleveland Police Department shows from left, Onil Castro, Ariel Castro, and Pedro Casto.The three brothers were arrested Tuesday, May 7, 2013, after three women who disappeared in Cleveland a decade ago were found safe Monday. The brothers are accused of holding the victims against their will. (AP Photo/Cleveland Police Department)
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This undated combination photo released by the Cleveland Police Department shows from left, Onil Castro, Ariel Castro, and Pedro Casto.The three brothers were arrested Tuesday, May 7, 2013, after three women who disappeared in Cleveland a decade ago were found safe Monday. The brothers are accused of holding the victims against their will. (AP Photo/Cleveland Police Department)
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FILE - In this March 3, 2006 file photo, a memorial for Gina DeJesus, who has been missing since April 2, 2004, rests alongside her house in Cleveland. Cleveland police say DeJesus, one of two women who went missing as teenagers about a decade ago has been found alive in a residential area about two miles (three kilometers) south of downtown. (AP Photo/Tony Dejak, File)— AP

FILE - In this March 3, 2006 file photo, a memorial for Gina DeJesus, who has been missing since April 2, 2004, rests alongside her house in Cleveland. Cleveland police say DeJesus, one of two women who went missing as teenagers about a decade ago has been found alive in a residential area about two miles (three kilometers) south of downtown. (AP Photo/Tony Dejak, File)
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FILE - In this Friday, March 3, 2004 file photos shows Felix DeJesus, holding a banner showing his daughter's photograph, standing by a memorial in his living room in Cleveland. Cleveland police say two women who went missing as teenagers about a decade ago have been found alive in a residential area about two miles south of downtown. Cheering crowds gathered Monday night on the street near the home where police say Amanda Berry, Gina DeJesus and a third woman were found earlier in the day. The — AP

FILE - In this Friday, March 3, 2004 file photos shows Felix DeJesus, holding a banner showing his daughter's photograph, standing by a memorial in his living room in Cleveland. Cleveland police say two women who went missing as teenagers about a decade ago have been found alive in a residential area about two miles south of downtown. Cheering crowds gathered Monday night on the street near the home where police say Amanda Berry, Gina DeJesus and a third woman were found earlier in the day. The
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This image provided by the FBI shows the updated "Missing Person" poster for Amanda Berry. A frantic phone call Monday, May 6, 2013, led police to a house near downtown Cleveland where Berry and two other women who vanished about a decade ago were found Monday, exhilarating law enforcement authorities, family members and friends who had longed to see them again (AP Photo/FBI)— AP

This image provided by the FBI shows the updated "Missing Person" poster for Amanda Berry. A frantic phone call Monday, May 6, 2013, led police to a house near downtown Cleveland where Berry and two other women who vanished about a decade ago were found Monday, exhilarating law enforcement authorities, family members and friends who had longed to see them again (AP Photo/FBI)
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This image provided by the FBI shows the updated "Missing Person" poster for Georgina "Gina" Dejesus. A frantic phone call Monday, May 6, 2013, led police to a house near downtown Cleveland where Dejesus and two other women who vanished about a decade ago were found Monday, exhilarating law enforcement authorities, family members and friends who had longed to see them again (AP Photo/FBI)— AP

This image provided by the FBI shows the updated "Missing Person" poster for Georgina "Gina" Dejesus. A frantic phone call Monday, May 6, 2013, led police to a house near downtown Cleveland where Dejesus and two other women who vanished about a decade ago were found Monday, exhilarating law enforcement authorities, family members and friends who had longed to see them again (AP Photo/FBI)
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This image provided by the FBI shows the updated "Missing Person" poster for Georgina "Gina" Dejesus. A frantic phone call Monday, May 6, 2013, led police to a house near downtown Cleveland where Dejesus and two other women who vanished about a decade ago were found Monday, exhilarating law enforcement authorities, family members and friends who had longed to see them again (AP Photo/FBI)— AP

This image provided by the FBI shows the updated "Missing Person" poster for Georgina "Gina" Dejesus. A frantic phone call Monday, May 6, 2013, led police to a house near downtown Cleveland where Dejesus and two other women who vanished about a decade ago were found Monday, exhilarating law enforcement authorities, family members and friends who had longed to see them again (AP Photo/FBI)
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This image provided by the FBI shows the updated "Missing Person" poster for Amanda Berry. A frantic phone call Monday, May 6, 2013, led police to a house near downtown Cleveland where Berry and two other women who vanished about a decade ago were found Monday, exhilarating law enforcement authorities, family members and friends who had longed to see them again (AP Photo/FBI)— AP

This image provided by the FBI shows the updated "Missing Person" poster for Amanda Berry. A frantic phone call Monday, May 6, 2013, led police to a house near downtown Cleveland where Berry and two other women who vanished about a decade ago were found Monday, exhilarating law enforcement authorities, family members and friends who had longed to see them again (AP Photo/FBI)
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This image provided by the FBI shows the updated "Missing Person" poster for Amanda Berry. A frantic phone call Monday, May 6, 2013, led police to a house near downtown Cleveland where Berry and two other women who vanished about a decade ago were found Monday, exhilarating law enforcement authorities, family members and friends who had longed to see them again (AP Photo/FBI)— AP

This image provided by the FBI shows the updated "Missing Person" poster for Amanda Berry. A frantic phone call Monday, May 6, 2013, led police to a house near downtown Cleveland where Berry and two other women who vanished about a decade ago were found Monday, exhilarating law enforcement authorities, family members and friends who had longed to see them again (AP Photo/FBI)
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Police and FBI congregate outside a house on Cleveland's west side Monday, May 6, 2013 where police say three women were found. The women who went missing separately about a decade ago, when they were in their teens or early 20s, were found alive Monday in a residential area just south of downtown, and three people were arrested. (AP Photo/Mark Duncan)— AP

Police and FBI congregate outside a house on Cleveland's west side Monday, May 6, 2013 where police say three women were found. The women who went missing separately about a decade ago, when they were in their teens or early 20s, were found alive Monday in a residential area just south of downtown, and three people were arrested. (AP Photo/Mark Duncan)
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Investigators enter a house on the west side of Cleveland Monday, May 6, 2013 where police say three women were found. The women who went missing separately about a decade ago, when they were in their teens or early 20s, were found alive in the house, and a man was arrested. (AP Photo/Mark Duncan)— AP

Investigators enter a house on the west side of Cleveland Monday, May 6, 2013 where police say three women were found. The women who went missing separately about a decade ago, when they were in their teens or early 20s, were found alive in the house, and a man was arrested. (AP Photo/Mark Duncan)
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Members of the FBI evidence team remove items from a house on in Cleveland Monday, May 6, 2013. Three women who went missing separately about a decade ago, when they were in their teens or early 20s, were found alive in the house, and a man was arrested. (AP Photo/Mark Duncan)— AP

Members of the FBI evidence team remove items from a house on in Cleveland Monday, May 6, 2013. Three women who went missing separately about a decade ago, when they were in their teens or early 20s, were found alive in the house, and a man was arrested. (AP Photo/Mark Duncan)
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Cleveland Police stand outside a home where they say missing women, Amanda Berry, Gina DeJesus and Michele Knight were found in the 2200 block of Seymour Avenue in Cleveland on Monday, May 6, 2013. The three women who went missing about a decade ago were found alive in a residential area just south of downtown, and a man was arrested. (AP Photo/Plain Dealer, Scott Shaw) MANADATORY CREDIT CLEVELAND PLAIN DEALER— AP

Cleveland Police stand outside a home where they say missing women, Amanda Berry, Gina DeJesus and Michele Knight were found in the 2200 block of Seymour Avenue in Cleveland on Monday, May 6, 2013. The three women who went missing about a decade ago were found alive in a residential area just south of downtown, and a man was arrested. (AP Photo/Plain Dealer, Scott Shaw) MANADATORY CREDIT CLEVELAND PLAIN DEALER
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Tasheena Mitchell, cousin of Amanda Berry celebrates outside of MetroHealth Medical Center after Berry, Gina DeJesus and Michele Knight were found in a house on Seymour Avenue in Cleveland, Monday, May 6, 2013. The three women who went missing about a decade ago were found alive in a residential area just south of downtown, and a man was arrested. (AP Photo/The Plain Dealer, Gus Chan) MANDATORY CREDIT CLEVELAND PLAIN DEALER— AP

Tasheena Mitchell, cousin of Amanda Berry celebrates outside of MetroHealth Medical Center after Berry, Gina DeJesus and Michele Knight were found in a house on Seymour Avenue in Cleveland, Monday, May 6, 2013. The three women who went missing about a decade ago were found alive in a residential area just south of downtown, and a man was arrested. (AP Photo/The Plain Dealer, Gus Chan) MANDATORY CREDIT CLEVELAND PLAIN DEALER
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This image provided by the FBI shows an undated photo of Georgina "Gina" Dejesus. Police Chief Michael McGrath said he thinks Amanda Berry, DeJesus and Michelle Knight were tied up at the house and held there since they were in their teens or early 20s. Berry and the two other women who went missing a decade ago were found on Monday, May 6, 2013 elating family members and friends who'd longed to see them again. (AP Photo/FBI)— AP

This image provided by the FBI shows an undated photo of Georgina "Gina" Dejesus. Police Chief Michael McGrath said he thinks Amanda Berry, DeJesus and Michelle Knight were tied up at the house and held there since they were in their teens or early 20s. Berry and the two other women who went missing a decade ago were found on Monday, May 6, 2013 elating family members and friends who'd longed to see them again. (AP Photo/FBI)
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This image provided by the FBI shows an undated photo of Amanda Berry. The voice of the long-missing woman was frantic and breathless, choking back tears. "Help me. I'm Amanda Berry," she told a 911 dispatcher. "I've been kidnapped and I've been missing for 10 years and I'm, I'm here, I'm free now." Those words led police to a house near downtown Cleveland where Berry and two other women who went missing a decade ago were found on Monday, elating family members and friends who'd longed to see t— AP

This image provided by the FBI shows an undated photo of Amanda Berry. The voice of the long-missing woman was frantic and breathless, choking back tears. "Help me. I'm Amanda Berry," she told a 911 dispatcher. "I've been kidnapped and I've been missing for 10 years and I'm, I'm here, I'm free now." Those words led police to a house near downtown Cleveland where Berry and two other women who went missing a decade ago were found on Monday, elating family members and friends who'd longed to see t
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Neighbor Charles Ramsey speaks to media near the home on the 2200 block of Seymour Avenue, where three missing women were rescued in Cleveland, on Monday, May 6, 2013. Cheering crowds gathered on the street where police said Amanda Berry, Gina DeJesus and Michele Knight, who went missing about a decade ago and were found earlier in the day. (AP Photo/The Plain Dealer, Scott Shaw) MANDATORY CREDIT CLEVELAND PLAIN DEALER— AP

Neighbor Charles Ramsey speaks to media near the home on the 2200 block of Seymour Avenue, where three missing women were rescued in Cleveland, on Monday, May 6, 2013. Cheering crowds gathered on the street where police said Amanda Berry, Gina DeJesus and Michele Knight, who went missing about a decade ago and were found earlier in the day. (AP Photo/The Plain Dealer, Scott Shaw) MANDATORY CREDIT CLEVELAND PLAIN DEALER
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Amanda Berry, right, hugs her sister Beth Serrano after being reunited in a Cleveland hospital Monday May 6, 2013. Berry and two other women were found in a house near downtown Cleveland Monday after being missing for about a decade. (AP Photo/Family Handout courtesy WOIO-TV)— AP

Amanda Berry, right, hugs her sister Beth Serrano after being reunited in a Cleveland hospital Monday May 6, 2013. Berry and two other women were found in a house near downtown Cleveland Monday after being missing for about a decade. (AP Photo/Family Handout courtesy WOIO-TV)
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This undated photo released by the Cleveland Police Department shows Pedro J. Castro. Three women who disappeared in Cleveland a decade ago were found safe Monday, and police arrested three brothers, including Castro, accused of holding the victims against their will. (AP Photo/HO, Cleveland Police Department)— AP

This undated photo released by the Cleveland Police Department shows Pedro J. Castro. Three women who disappeared in Cleveland a decade ago were found safe Monday, and police arrested three brothers, including Castro, accused of holding the victims against their will. (AP Photo/HO, Cleveland Police Department)
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In this undated photo released by the Cleveland Police Department shows Onil Castro. Three women who disappeared in Cleveland a decade ago were found safe Monday, and police arrested three brothers, including Castro, accused of holding the victims against their will. (AP Photo/Cleveland Police Department)— AP

In this undated photo released by the Cleveland Police Department shows Onil Castro. Three women who disappeared in Cleveland a decade ago were found safe Monday, and police arrested three brothers, including Castro, accused of holding the victims against their will. (AP Photo/Cleveland Police Department)
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This undated photo released by the Cleveland Police Department shows Ariel Castro. Three women who disappeared in Cleveland a decade ago were found safe Monday, and police arrested three brothers, including Castro, accused of holding the victims against their will. (AP Photo/Cleveland Police Department)— AP

This undated photo released by the Cleveland Police Department shows Ariel Castro. Three women who disappeared in Cleveland a decade ago were found safe Monday, and police arrested three brothers, including Castro, accused of holding the victims against their will. (AP Photo/Cleveland Police Department)
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These undated handout photos provided by the FBI show Amanda Berry, left, and Georgina "Gina" Dejesus. Cleveland Police Chief Michael McGrath said he thinks Berry, DeJesus and Michelle Knight were tied up at the house and held there since they were in their teens or early 20s. Berry and the two other women who went missing a decade ago were found on Monday, May 6, 2013 elating family members and friends who'd longed to see them again. (AP Photo/FBI)— AP

These undated handout photos provided by the FBI show Amanda Berry, left, and Georgina "Gina" Dejesus. Cleveland Police Chief Michael McGrath said he thinks Berry, DeJesus and Michelle Knight were tied up at the house and held there since they were in their teens or early 20s. Berry and the two other women who went missing a decade ago were found on Monday, May 6, 2013 elating family members and friends who'd longed to see them again. (AP Photo/FBI)
/ AP

CLEVELAND 
One neighbor says a naked woman was seen crawling on her hands and knees in the backyard of the house a few years ago. Another neighbor says he heard pounding on the doors and noticed plastic bags over the windows.

Police showed up at the house both times, the neighbors say, but never went inside.

Now, after three women who vanished separately about a decade ago were rescued from the peeling, rundown house Monday in a discovery that exhilarated and astonished the city, Cleveland police are facing questions about their handling of the case and are conducting an internal review to see if they overlooked anything.

Police Chief Michael McGrath said Amanda Berry, Gina DeJesus and Michelle Knight had apparently been held captive in the house since their teens or early 20s.

Authorities arrested three brothers, ages 50 to 54. One of them, former school bus driver Ariel Castro, owned the home, situated in a poor neighborhood dotted with boarded-up houses. No immediate charges were filed.

The break in the case came when the 27-year-old Berry kicked out the bottom of a locked screen door at the home and used a neighbor's telephone to call 911. Choking back tears, she breathlessly told the dispatcher: "Help me. I'm Amanda Berry. I've been kidnapped and I've been missing for 10 years and I'm, I'm here, I'm free now."

Police arrived to find the two other women, along with a 6-year-old girl who authorities said was believed to Berry's daughter. Police would not say who the father was or where the child was born.

"Prayers have finally been answered. The nightmare is over," said Stephen Anthony, head of the FBI in Cleveland. "These three young ladies have provided us with the ultimate definition of survival and perseverance. The healing can now begin."

He added: "Words can't describe the emotions being felt by all. Yes, law enforcement professionals do cry."

Authorities would not say how the women were taken captive, whether they were restrained inside the house or if they had been sexually assaulted. Police said they were trying to be delicate in their questioning of the women, given their ordeal.

Cleveland police came under heavy criticism in a separate case a few years ago following the discovery of 11 bodies in a man's home and backyard in another poor section of the city. Neighbors had long complained about foul odors, and the victims' families charged that police didn't take the reports of missing women seriously.

As for whether police this time overlooked hints about the women's fate, city Safety Director Martin Flask said Tuesday morning: "At this point, I can confirm that we have no indications that any of the neighbors, bystanders, witnesses or anyone else has ever called regarding any information, regarding activity that occurred at that house."

However, he said authorities were still checking all databases of calls to police, fire and emergency services.